Access Award of Merit Update 2010

At the April 2010 Annual Civic Dinner hosted by the City of Prince George, the Prince George Accessibility Advisory Committee.(PGAAC- Represented by Fern H) awarded the "Access Award of Merit" to the Prince George Council of Seniors (PGCOS)  through Lola-Dawn Fennel, Director.

The award is presented annually to individuals, groups or businesses that have made a significant contribution towards a barrier free community, which is both universally accessible and inclusive to all residents.  PGCOS is responsible for creating universally designed healthy sustainable senior communities in Prince George.   They have had input in every construction that Seniors may frequent; most areas are shared with a "younger then senior" population of disabled persons.  Many municipal "accessibility bylaws" are created due to problems the Senior community face, we all hope to become seniors someday and we all frequent the same areas 98% of the time.  The changes are a permanent feature and will be used by future citizens to make life completly accessible for all.

The Access Award of Merit is the highest honour granted by the City of Prince George in recognition of contributions to universal inclusiveness to improve the quality of life for all residents in this northern community.  Supporting seniors supports ourselves.

ConnaughtHill

Open from April to September annually and located in Prince George’s historic east side, this park gives a picturestic 360 degree view overlooking the original Prince George town sites. It has long been part of the history of the area.

In time immortal, the hill was an island in the confluence of the Mighty Fraser and the Nechako Rivers. Natives in the area settled the community as the land opened up. They would not go up on Connaught Hill as they had legends of the hill being an ancient Beaver Lodge where the Beaver King lived and terrorized them.

Thousands of years past and the Europeans came and altered the history of the land to include themselves. The hill held a water tower in Prince George’s early days; gravity feed supplied the water to the hundred or so residents of the original 2 town sites. In 1931, British Columbia’s first artificially illuminated ski jump was constructed on the hill’s western slope. The jump was constructed in February. It measured 30 meters and was host to the Canadian Olympic trials of that decade.

Prince George’s first female Mayor Carrie Jane Gray (1958-59) witnessed the opening of the park on Connaught Hill during her time at City Hall. The attractive and fragrant flora is native to the area; some smaller wildlife has been spotted on the slopes. Today, during the spring, summer and early fall, residents and visitors alike can enjoy the beauty of the park and view from 8am to 11pm at no cost. It is accessed by traveling along Queensway and turning west on Connaught drive a few blocks north of 17th Avenue.

In November to January Prince George is lit up with the lights of the festive season in the “Northern Lights Festival”. Starting west of town with “Candy Cane Lane” (Upland Street at Ferry Drive), residents and visitors are treated to seasonal lights and spectacular nativity displays all over the city. In 2007, Connaught Hill joined in and hosted a land of lights, candy canes and seasonal characters during the Northern Lights Festival. Come enjoy Prince George in any season!

ForestsForTheWorld

The city of Prince George was developed amid the great forests and waterways of British Columbia’s central interior. Within the city, we have preserved the beauty and tranquility of our natural heritage in lots of parks and trails, many of which are naturally accessible to persons using mobility devices.

“Forests for the World” is one such park located about 8kms (Roughly 5 miles) from city center in Prince George’s extreme backyard. It borders the University of Northern British Columba on the north, who use it for a demonstration forest for their forestry courses amid the turmoil of public access in the park.

Public access is granted by turning left on 15th Ave at Victoria Street to Foothills Blvd, turn left to Cranbrook Hill road. Follow Cranbrook Hill road quite a way and turn left on Sinden road (South) to the FFTW parking lot. Take some time to explore along the way, young growth forests of mixed Conifer and Deciduous trees and limited residential properties make a nice relaxing ride to the scenic area you will enter shortly.

As with all parks within Prince George, conventional vehicles, motorbikes & ATV’s are forbidden. It is wise to carry noisemakers to avoid running into the predatory wildlife that also inhabit the woods around the city. Enjoy the bush and please be “fire wise” in dry summer conditions so that the forest remains for its’ many visitors and educational pursuits.

September2009-needspudatelinks

The city has been active over the month of July. Work began on upgrading the front lawn of City Hall (Veteran’s Plaza) to improve the cenotaph. The old one was constructed of stone and cement and was becoming weathered and eroded. The new one will be full of granite and should weather the years much better. As well as the cenotaph, benches, First Nation art and more trees will fill much of the area. Several “danger” trees had to be removed and the “Prince George Woodturner’s Guild” was commissioned as a partner in the project to turn the wood into items like bowls, vases and other unique items.

 

Updated 2010

Work is continuing on the “Gateway Retirement Complex” at 20 Ave and Victoria Street. The complex is now under the direction of Northern Health and it is expected to be operational early in the fall of 2009. The complex will be a mixed community with the most severely needy housed next to Victoria Street. The complex runs east along 20 Ave and it will include different levels of need, ending in a completely independent apartment style living area close to the corner of 20 Ave and Oak Street.

Another project that was completed in July was the “Seniors’ Community Park”, located at the south end of Masich Place Stadium, in the corner between the PGSS Field and Masich Place, right beside a large parking lot.  This park is part of the BC Governments’ program for community fitness; a grant from “Act Now” secured by the “Prince George Council of Seniors” went into the construction of the park. It is open to the public 24/7, free to use for any age (minimum age 13 years) and is completely accessible. Much of the equipment is designed in such a way so everyone, no mater what ability level, can participate and get fit. Exercise has been proven to improve abilities and quality of life in humanity, but be sure to check with your primary health care provider before undertaking any exercise program.

CityWorks-Heritage River Trail

Beginning at Carrie Jane Grey Park which is at the junction of 20th avenue and Massey Drive, this scenic nature “Walk-N-Roll” goes approximately 10.5 Kilometers passing behind residential areas, 3 major civic parks and a Wild Bird sanctuary.  Its’ journey runs under Highway 16 West , past the Hudson’s Bay Slough, crossing Queensway Street to head behind Fort George Park in Prince George east along the Fraser River encompassing Prince George’s “Back Yard”.

After that, it continues further up the Fraser River to the confluence of the Nechako River in North Prince George, passing a traditional First Nation’s Burial ground along the way. After the confluence, it follows the Nechako River through Cottonwood Island Park and ends at the new Cameron Street Bridge in Prince George North. Enterprising walkers and heavy duty electric medical mobility devices can continue on a new trail developed on the North side of the Nechako River.

The trail is host to lots of wildlife of all sizes. It is wise to carry noisemaking devices like bells and whistles as most of the predatory wildlife will avoid humans as long as you do not surprise them. The noisemakers can serve a duel purpose.Electric Mobility devices and bikes travel silent and faster than the average walker and serious personal damage can occur if a faster moving device strikes a walker around a blind overgrown corner.Noise will give both parties advance warning and time to avoid “collisions”.

The trail has garbage collection containers in quite a few locations. The city asks that you use them and to “pick up after your pet”. Stool collection bags are available along the trail. The rules of the trails in PG are to keep to the right, have pets on leashes, respect the environment and other trail users. Enjoy your civic trails and have fun on over 113Km in many other outdoor civic trails around Prince George. City Hall has information on all of them, so stop by and explore a side of the city you may be missing!